John Robert Bradley

Born in Memphis, Tennessee to John and Lela Ellis Bradley on October 5, 1919, John Robert Lee Bradley was known as "Mr. Baptist". A protégé of Luci E. Campbell, the National Baptist Convention's, U. S. A., Inc., Music Director and pioneering gospel songwriter, J. Robert Bradley began singing at the age of 12 in Memphis. Campbell introduced the young singer to the National Baptist Convention and made him the lead singer in her newly organized Good Will Singers Quartet that toured nationally. His Memphis pastor and songwriter the Rev. W. Herbert Brewster nurtured Bradley. Known for his rich baritone voice, he received voice lessons from Charles Faulkner Bryan, head of Tennessee Polytechnic Institute's (now Tennessee Technological University) music division. Assisted by Campbell and Baptist leader and pastor Dr. A. M. Townsend, Bradley studied voice with the Wagnerian singer, Edythe Walker in New York, where he made his Carnegie Hall debut. Continued: In 1955 he made his Royal Albert Hall debut in London with the British royal family in attendance. Bradley also studied at London's Trinity College and sang for BBC radio. The renowned singer recorded his first gospel single for the Apollo label in 1950 and went on to record for Decca. Later he recorded for Nashboro and Spirit Feel/Shanachie. After the 1963 demise of Lucie Campbell, Bradley succeeded her as director of music for the National Baptist Convention, U. S. A., Inc. A favorite singer of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he was knighted in Liberia by President William Tolbert in 1975. Mahalia Jackson noted, "Nobody need mess with 'Amazing Grace' after Bradley..." A member of Spruce Street Baptist Church, Sir J. Robert Bradley died on May 3, 2007. He was eulogized at Spruce Street and buried next to his mother in Greenwood Cemetery on May 7, 2007.